Schoolboys guilty of 'cult film' killing

Michael Moss was kicked, beaten and stabbed

The jury came to a 10-2 majority verdict on Graham Neary after nearly 16 hours

Three schoolboys have been detained at Her Majesty's pleasure for the murder of a 15-year-old boy in what was described as a copycat incident based on the cult film "Reservoir Dogs".

Allan Bentley, Mark McKeefrey and Graham Neary, all 16 years old, were found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of the murder of Michael Moss in a school playground on Merseyside.

The teenager was kicked and stabbed more than 50 times after his ear was almost cut off by a broken vodka bottle, mimicking a scene from the violent film.

The jury heard that last November Michael was lured to the school playing field yards from the adolescent centre where he was a resident.

The three teenagers cornered him at a climbing frame and head-butted him to the ground.

Beaten

Stripped naked apart from his socks, Michael was beaten, punched and kicked as he lay on the playground.

The attack happened after a row over a girl.

The jury was told that one of the attackers was jealous that Michael had started to date a 14-year-old girl.

After nearly 12 hours the jury returned unanimous verdicts on two of the schoolboys before producing a third guilty verdict.

As the first double guilty verdict was given, Bentley and McKeefrey stared straight ahead in the dock, surrounded by probation officers.

Cries of "Yes!" came from the public gallery.

Later, the third schoolboy was also found guilty of the murder.

All three had denied murdering the teenager.

Lured

The judge Mr Justice Penry-Davey said the two boys Bentley and McKeefrey "lured Michael Moss out on that night, you stripped him naked and in due course the three of you killed him."

He continued: "Having attacked and injured him so that he was unable to move, you left him and later the three of you went to the scene where the appalling violence continued.

"As a result of that attack, Michael Moss sustained appalling multiple injuries, internally and externally, as a result of which he died."

Mr Justice Penry-Davey lifted an order banning identification of the three boys.

Callous

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Marsden said he was pleased with the verdict and for Mrs Moss, Michael's mother.

He said: "Michael was five weeks away from his 16th birthday when he was lured out of his home and subjected to a barbaric attack.

"These three were very selfish, callous and cold in the way that they carried it out. They never showed any remorse."

A fourth boy, 15, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to an offence of violent disorder.

All five women members of the jury wept as the third and final verdict was given.